The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-01-28

i IL was early IN n morning Gnat 9
sudden stop was made. Uncle Dick
went to reconnoiter and soon came
back to report. Miss Daisy and her
mother were sitting in their section as
he approached.
"We've struck a streak of bad luck
now" said he. "Somethin's broke
on the engine an they've got to tele,
graph ahead for another. She can't
be here for three hours at least"
where are WEI" asked Mrs. Robi
not.
"Well, by this new tangled way oil
reckonin' they call this mile post No.
$40, but l know every inch OF this
ground an we're just across the river
from where I've had many a good
time-Bent's old fort"
To the surprise of Der daughter Mrs.
Robinot started sharply, rose almost
to her feet, turned pale and then
flushed to her eyes. Only with great
effort did she command herself suth'
GENTLY to speak.
Can we not visit that fort?" she
asked.
"Well, it amt fur away and it's only
a matter of crossin' the river, if we
kin git some kind of boat or raft.
I'll go an see;' and he left the two
women by themselves. The mother
took her daughters hand and turned
to her.
"My child" said she in a low tone,
"many years ago l lost q dear friend,
who died far, far away, as it then
seemed; and the place where he was
buried has been to me, through all the
part of my life which has passed since
then, as if in some other world. Now,
what you may call chance has arrest
ed our progress near O spot of which
/ hear the name repeated for the first
time since the courier brought the sad
news to me, a young girl like you. 1t
would make me happier to look for
once at that lonely grave" She sat
silent for a time closely pressing the
girls hand and then Uncle Dick re.
turned.
cit warn't such a bad streak OF
luck arter ALL" said he, with a broad
smile on his honest face. "Thar's a
couple of officers an a squad O. men
thet's been camped near here takin'
some photographs. They're over
thar to the fort now an we'll hail EN-
an git 'em to send their RATS fur u.s."
They walked down thesloping bank,
and when they pushed their way be-
tween the cottonwood trees which OBJ
structed the view there was the an
cient fort, ruined and dilapidated, but
preserving something of it's old form
and dimensions. A hail brought a
raft, polled by two soldiers, and in q
few moments Mrs. Robinot, guided by
Uncle Dick to the northwestern cor
ner, found the grave of him who
had been laid there nearly forty
years before! The wood of the
headboard was hard as iron; no van
dal hand had invaded this humble inn
itation Of Gods acre, and the name
could still be deciphered. Mrs. Rob-
mot was overcome for a moment, and
she held her handkerchief to her eyes
while Uncle Dick was speaking. eyer
hedn't orter take on, now, really, ma
am" said he. HE was O. good man
an a brave man, and he went to glory
nigh on forty years ago. allow you
amt got no call to grievefor him now,
an here's the Captain come to pay
his respects"
Mrs. Robinot removed her handker-
chief from her eyes only to start more
violently than before, for facing her,
cap in hand and smiling, was the liv-
ing counterpart of him who had come,
when they both were young, to bid
her goodbye; and in uniform, too.
And then, stranger still, it was her
own daughter who, coloring to her
eyes. introduced to her this breathing
remainder of the past.
Mamma" said she, "this is an old
acquaintance of mine. / told you I
met him On the plains, but perhaps I
did not mention his name-Captain
Leonard Hamlin-"
"Of the-the cavalry, very much
at your service" said the officer, "and
name and nephew of one whom, if /
mistake not, you knew well in past
years"
As a matter of course the rest OF
this little story Is easily told. In q
new generation the disappointment of
aformsr one was redressed; the evening
OF the mothers days was cheered by
the happiness-inaugurated with such
poetic iustice-of her daughter; and the
curious traveller may see for himself
what loving care has donefor the lone
ly grave at Bent's old fort.-A. A.